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Reader Request: The Agent On Fighting Games

Three times more exciting than the UFC with ninety percent less chance for physical injury. Source: Capcom

I was recently contacted by one of my readers who was quite pleased with last week’s review of The Mighty Quest for Epic Loot. He then asked if I could do a review of Skullgirls stating that he enjoyed learning other peoples opinions and his confidence in “the position [I’m] in as an unbiased reviewer.”

Failing that, he also said that he’d like to know my thoughts on the fighting genre of video games in general.

Since I do try to space out articles with similar themes, I won’t be reviewing Skullgirls; at least not this week. But I’d be more then happy to inform others on my thoughts on the genre for fighting games.

Fighting games, like any genre of any entertainment medium, has it’s own set of strengths by which it plays by and excels at. The greatest strength of fighters is their nature to spark competitiveness.

Fighting games have always been at their best and most cherished when players could easily turn them into one on one tests of reflexes, memorization, and nerves. This is why so many tournaments in the field of what is now “electronic sports” are centered around fighters. Granted genres like real-time strategy, first-person shooters and multiplayer online battle arenas are also popular, but most people will usually liken e-sports to the Evolution Championship Series that focuses exclusively on fighters.

Brief side note: I’d like to point out that when most people in favor of regulating the sale of so-called “violent games” talk about people expressing violent tendencies while playing games, I think what they’re seeing is this competitiveness. Tensions run high when you’re in a competitive environment. The “violent tendencies” you see gamers express while playing is no different than those of fans and players of traditional sports and I have yet to see a ban called on football where people can REALLY get hurt.

Anyway, back to fighting games…

The one problem with a genre so intrinsically linked to competition is that it’s very difficult for those just looking to play and have fun to get into. We have to face the facts; there are a lot of different types of gamers out there and not all of them are out to take the game as seriously as the rest of us.

As for me, I like fighters. I like studying the strategies and tactics of gameplay and finding something that works for me. I like memorizing button combinations and the feeling of completion when I finally manage to best someone in honorable battle (as rarely as that happens. I’m actually quite terrible at most fighters despite my love for them).

I guess the message I’d like to leave my readers with is this: to the people who have been playing for ages, be open and let the newbies in. It’s those newbies that will be the pros in the future. And to those afraid to jump in and try, don’t be. You will likely fail many times as you start, but diligence and careful study will lead to your success.

Do you have a “Reader Request” you’d like to see? Leave a comment below or send a your request on Facebook or Twitter with #AARequest.